Compare towns
Berlin vs Warren vs Middlesex vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Barre has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Berlin | Warren | Middlesex | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,585Lowest |
1,943 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
53.1±4.2Highest 23% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
| Warren and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.1%±4.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Warren and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
$86,905±$16k 7% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
| Middlesex and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$569,300±$123kHighest 80% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,750±$394Highest 42% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,524±$399 24% above VT |
| Warren and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$7,284Highest 45% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$4,737 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
32.3%±26.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barre and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
15.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
36.2%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Warren and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.